CJI sexual-harassment case: Complainant's husband, brother-in-law get their jobs back
What's the story
In a recent development, the husband and brother-in-law of the woman, who accused Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi of sexual harassment, got their jobs back. Both of them served as head constables in Delhi Police and were suspended nearly four months ago. Though they were reinstated, they still face a departmental inquiry, reports Indian Express. Here's more on this.
The case
Context: Woman claimed CJI Gogoi sexually harassed her last year
In April this year, Indian judiciary was jolted by the woman's allegations. The junior staffer wrote an affidavit to 22 Supreme Court judges detailing the harassment she allegedly faced in October 2018. She claimed CJI Gogoi touched her inappropriately and when she rebuffed his advances, she was sacked and had to go through different adversities. Meanwhile, CJI Gogoi dismissed the allegations.
Suspension
Victim claimed her family was being targeted, police denied
The complainant said her family faced consequences too. She claimed her husband and brother-in-law were suspended for an unverified 2012 criminal case. However, Delhi police narrated a different story. A Crime Branch officer said the woman's husband faced departmental inquiry for allegedly calling CJI's office. Separately, her brother-in-law was being probed for hiding a police complaint pertaining to his 'unruly behavior'.
Statement
Hope the departmental inquiry also gets closed: Woman's brother-in-law
The woman's brother-in-law confirmed the development. He told IE, "We were reinstated a few days ago and now we hope they will also close our departmental inquiry as we are innocent... My brother is currently in Mumbai with his wife for her ear treatment." However, the complainant's husband said he has no information about this since he is "on leave".
Panel
Committee was formed to probe accusations, but woman walked out
After the woman revealed her story, an inquiry was launched but she didn't participate in it. The woman left the proceedings mid-way as she had no hopes of getting justice. She said the panel, headed by Justice SA Bobde and including Justices Indira Banerjee and Indu Malhotra, lacked sensitivity. The committee's approach gave her fear, anxiety, and trauma, she claimed.
Clean chit
Subsequently, CJI Gogoi was given a clean chit
Despite the woman highlighting the problems she had with the probe, little was done to make her comfortable. Instead, the panel continued with the inquiry and concluded that there was no substance in the allegations. The findings were submitted in a sealed cover and CJI Gogoi was given a clean chit. The panel underscored that it was not liable to make the report public.
Quote
Crushed after verdict, woman said she lost everything
Naturally, the woman felt dejected after the "exoneration". She said, "I have lost my job, I have lost everything. I felt it was a great injustice to me and my family. We were all shocked to learn that they just said there is 'no substance'."